The state Department of Public Health yesterday announced the state's first animal case of West Nile Virus: In an alpaca, somewhere in sprawling Middlesex County, a week after four human cases had been confirmed in the state. Read more.

The Boston Public Health Commission reported the news today, just a couple days after announcing West Nile-ish mosquitoes in Jamaica Plain. You know the drill.

The Boston Public Health Commission reports some mosquitoes found in Jamaica Plain tested positive for the virus earlier this week.

No human cases this summer have yet been reported of the virus, which, in otherwise healthy people, normally only causes a mild flu-like infection. Still, the commission says now's the time for residents to do their part to reduce mosquito bites and breeding:

The Boston Public Health Commission says the woman, in her 50s, was hospitalized, but has since been released. However, because she had traveled before becoming ill, the commission has no idea whether she picked up the virus from one of our local infected mosquitoes.

The virus has been detected in mosquito samples from Dorchester, Hyde Park, West Roxbury, Roslindale, East Boston and Jamaica Plain, the commission says, adding that the risk won't go away until the first hard frost.

In most people the virus creates mild flu-like symptoms, but people with compromised immune systems can have bigger problems.

The Boston Public Health Commission reports the first mosquitoes carrying West Nile Virus this year were found somewhere in Roslindale and the city has started putting larvicide in drains and other places where mosquitoes breed.

The Boston Public Health Commission today added Roslindale to the list of neighborhoods where mosquitoes have tested positive for the virus, which doesn't pose much of a threat to most people.

West Roxbury and Dorchester had already yielded virus-laden mosquitoes; the commission says new sampling in those two neighborhoods showed more germy bugs.

The Boston Public Health Commission reports the year's first detection of mosquitoes carrying West Nile Virus, in West Roxbury. No human cases have yet been diagnosed.

The disease generally poses little threat to people with healthy immune systems, but officials say people should take the usual steps - use insect repellent outdoors, especially dusk to dawn, and wear pants and tops with long sleeves. Also, empty those gutters, get rid of old tires and turn over all those old flower pots. The city has started applying larvacide to its catch basins.

The state reports the first detection of the year of West Nile Virus in mosquitoes, from a trap in Halifax on June 30:

While WNV can infect people of all ages, people older than 50 are at higher risk for severe disease.